Kansas City Metro · Lenexa, KS
Morgan and Peace Silver Dollars — Values, Dates, and What to Look For
Morgan dollars (1878–1904, 1921) and Peace dollars (1921–1935) are the most collected US silver coins in history. Each contains 0.7734 troy ounces of pure silver, giving them a solid silver-content floor — but certain dates, mint marks, and grades are worth far more than the silver content. Here's what to look for.
Morgan dollar basics
Designed by George T. Morgan and struck from 1878–1904 and again in 1921. All Morgan dollars are 90% silver, 10% copper, weighing 26.73 grams and containing 0.7734 troy oz of pure silver. Minted at Philadelphia (no mint mark), New Orleans (O), San Francisco (S), Carson City (CC), and Denver (D, 1921 only). The mint mark is on the reverse beneath the eagle.
Peace dollar basics
Designed by Anthony de Francisci and struck from 1921–1928 and 1934–1935 to commemorate peace after World War I. Same silver content as the Morgan (0.7734 troy oz). Minted at Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Denver. The mint mark is on the reverse near the eagle's wing.
Key dates that are worth much more than their silver content
These are the dates and mint marks that command significant collector value above their silver content. Even in circulated condition, they're worth significantly more than a common Morgan.
- 1889-CC — one of the rarest Carson City Morgans
- 1893-S — the ultimate key date, worth thousands even in low grade
- 1895 (Proof only) — the 'King of Morgans'
- 1895-O and 1895-S — scarce and highly sought
- 1903-O — once considered rare, still carries collector value
- All Carson City (CC) Morgans — may carry collector value beyond common dates
- 1921 Peace (high relief) — first-year Peace dollar in special design
- 1928 Peace (Philadelphia) — lowest mintage Peace dollar
- 1934-S Peace — key date in high grades
How to tell if yours is a common circulated coin or a rarity
Three things: date, mint mark, and condition. Check the date on the obverse (Liberty side). Find the mint mark: on Morgans it's under the eagle's tail feathers on the reverse; on Peace dollars it's next to the eagle's wing near the word ONE. Then honestly assess wear — is the design crisp with full feather detail, or worn smooth? Uncirculated coins with original mint luster can be worth many times more than the same date in circulated grade.
Don't clean your coins. Cleaning permanently damages surfaces and can destroy 90%+ of collector value. Bring them in as-is, tarnish and all.
What common-date circulated silver dollars are worth
Common-date Morgan and Peace dollars in circulated condition are valued for their silver content with modest collector value on top. Uncirculated common dates carry more. Key dates and high grades are evaluated individually.
Bring the collection in — don't sort it yourself
Sellers often assume worn-looking coins aren't valuable. In fact, some of the most valuable dates look ordinary at a glance — the value is in the date and mint mark, not visible wear. Bring the whole roll or box exactly as you found it. We'll go through it coin by coin at the counter.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much silver is in a Morgan or Peace dollar?
0.7734 troy ounces of pure silver in each coin. At $30 market silver, that's about $23 of silver content per coin as a baseline.
Are Eisenhower dollars silver?
Only the 40% silver 'Blue Ike' and 'Brown Ike' collector versions from 1971–1976 are silver. Circulating Eisenhower dollars are copper-nickel and have no silver value.
Should I get my coins graded before selling?
For most common-date circulated coins, no — grading fees exceed the added value. For key dates or high-grade uncirculated coins, professional grading (PCGS or NGC) can substantially increase value. We can advise which is which.
Do you buy full rolls of silver dollars?
Yes. Bring them in as-is. We'll evaluate the roll for any key dates and evaluate the balance based on silver content and common-date collector value.
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